What are the most spectacular roads in Bhutan?

Get ready to face a drive in the Himalayas while travelling to Bhutan, a country located at the crossroads of East Asia and South Asia. Surrounded by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of India, this landlocked country comprises mountains, forests, alpine meadows, and glacial lakes, while providing great options for a mountain drive. The country experiences a range of climates, from subtropical in the south to alpine in the north, so it’s better to check the road conditions as they can change without notice.

Being part of the Himalayas mountain range, driving in the country offers hundreds of challenging mountain roads such as the one to Thrumshing La, climbing up to 3,752m (12,309ft) above sea level, in the Lhuntse District, the narrow road to Chele La, a mountain pass at 3,796m (12,454ft) above sea level located in the Paro District, or the road to Yotong La, a mountain pass at an elevation of 3,436m (11,272ft) asl, in the Bumthang District. And if you want to learn more about driving in the country, don't forget to check out our content about the highest roads in Bhutan, where altitude and adventure will offer you a breathtaking challenge.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a very mountainous country located in south-central Asia, on the eastern ridges of the Himalayas. It is about 47,000 kilometres - roughly the size of Switzerland. The country is a rugged land of steep mountains and deep valleys.

Chele La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,796m (12,454ft) above sea level, located in the western part of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Pele La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.423m (11,230ft) above the sea level, located in the Wangdue Phodrang District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Yotong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.436m (11,272ft) above the sea level, located in the Bumthang District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Thrumshing La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.752m (12,309ft) above the sea level, located in the Lhuntse District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Dochu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.126m (10,255ft) above the sea level, located in the Thimphu District of Bhutan.

Shertang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.573m (11,722ft) above the sea level, located in the Bumthang District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Kori La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.406m (7,893ft) above the sea level, located in the Mongar District in southeastern-central Bhutan.

Thrimshing La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.682m (12,080ft) above the sea level, located in the Bumthang District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Ohmba is a high mountain town at an elevation of 2.052m (6,732ft) above the sea level, located in the Trashiyangtse District of Bhutan. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous dropoffs.

Yongphu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.610m (8,562ft) above the sea level, located in the Trashigang District of Bhutan.

Xia Quepu is a glacial lake at an elevation of 4.918m (16,135ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Tremo La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.705m (15,436ft) above sea level, located on the Tibet/Bhutan border. The area was closed to residents and foreigners in 1962.

Namgung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.830m (15,846ft) above the sea level, located in Lhuntse District in Bhutan. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

 Sangbu La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.287m (17,345ft) above sea level, located on the border of China and Bhutan. 

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.